from Hooniverse.com - The Ariel Atom is sort of an incredible mystical machine to gear-heads which needs no introduction. It's a vehicle without a body, without doors, and without any creature comforts. Its primary purpose is to get the driver and one passenger, and nothing else, around a race track in the fastest and purest way possible. Its secondary purpose to disfigure the faces of said driver and passenger, which has become the obligatory thing to do by the few people who get to drive, or at least ride, in an Atom.

from HalifaxVirginia.com - TMI AutoTech's Co-Owner and VP Mark Swain has been recognized as one of the "Top 35 under 35" rising stars in the automotive industry by SEMA - Specialty Equipment Market Association.

TMI AutoTech, the North American manufacturer of the Ariel Atom, is headquartered at VIRginia International Raceway in Halifax County. The company also offers precision manufacturing for clients, and corporate retreats through its VIR Driving Experience.

Kevin Hickey describes his first time behind the wheel of an Ariel Atom as "nothing you've ever driven."

"It's as close to a race car as most people are ever going to drive," he said.

TMI Auto Tech and Virginia International raceway have teamed up to provide a once in a lifetime experience to drive one of the fastest supercars in the world. The car can get up to 135 mph.

"Most of the people for the experience we had last year flew in from California, from Mexico from China. They are coming in from all over the place. We want to show that, 'Hey this is right in your backyard. It's something really cool to do,'" said Mark Swain, the owner of TMI.

You can go race on a track anywhere in the United States, but this is the only place you can come drive a car that has been proven to beat a Ferrari.

"It's lightweight, it's got a lot of power and its handling is really where it's at," said Swain.

Swain should know better than anyone. His company is the only manufacturer of the Ariel Atom in the U.S. and oversees the driving experience at VIR. There are only 200 of them in the country.

"It's $495 for a half day experience... that provides everything you need for the day. You just show up with a smile and you're going to leave with a bigger smile," said Swain.

Before we get into the actual meat and potatoes of this review, please know that the absolute absurdity of the Ariel Atom 3 is not lost on us. It starts out as a sordid collection of mild steel tubing and a somewhat unassuming 2.0-liter K20Z four-cylinder engine mated to a six-speed manual, both pulled from the Honda parts bin. Throw in some fiberglass and a smattering of carbon fiber, four wheels, two lightweight racing seats with four-point harnesses, a steering wheel and some pedals, and that's just about it, save the optional windshield.

Getting into the driver's seat of the Ariel Atom is an interesting exercise. The car has no doors, no roof and no hood. It's like climbing into a four-wheeled jungle gym. Because of that, it's necessary to step on the driver's seat (wipe your feet, please) after throwing your leg over the high, unmovable latticework of tubes that make up the Atom's basic structure. However, once you learn the routine, it's not too difficult, and the payoff – something we've been aching to sample for more than a few years – is assuredly worth the effort.

So with visions of Jeremy Clarkson's misshapen face dancing in our brains, we unleashed the clutch in the Ariel Atom 3. And promptly stalled it.